A CompanY secret: Flexibility

SIDE A and The CompanY perform at Resorts World Manila on Sept. 16.

It’s always good to see musicians and singers beating the odds and lasting in their professions. Two examples are the pop band Side A and versatile vocal group The CompanY.

Both broke into the music scene in 1985, achieved major success, experienced personnel changes and suffered slumps along the way, but stayed on to keep doing what they love to do.

The CompanY’s de facto leader, Moy Ortiz, chatted with the Inquirer via e-mail, prior to the back-to-back concert dubbed “In The CompanY of Side A,” September 16 at Resorts World Manila’s Newport Performing Arts Theater.

The CompanY released a very interesting all-covers album last year, “Lighthearted,” which had a part 2 recently. Does this mean you’ve lost interest in writing or looking for new original songs?

Not at all. It has always been part of our mission/vision to contribute to Original Pilipino Music. We have not lost our love, passion and zeal for original Filipino songs. One of the secrets of our longevity is flexibility. We have always adapted to the demands of our audience. We would love to return to recording original songs, but it is not commercially viable at the moment.

What motivated the group to enter the pop music scene after college?

We were still in college when we formed The CompanY in 1985. We were members of the Ateneo College Glee Club then, and we wanted to work with vocal material that went beyond traditional choral music… Almost nobody intended to make this a full-blown career.

Who were the group’s biggest musical influences and how did you apply them in your recordings?

We were, and still are, in awe of The Manhattan Transfer and the defunct recording group, The Singers Unlimited. The Manhattan Transfer taught us the value of versatility and authenticity in each disparate music genre. The Singers Unlimited taught us the possibilities of the textures and colors in contemporary a cappella singing.

What’s the greatest thing you’ve learned in the business?

All these special gifts are on borrowed time, loaned to us by God. It’s up to us what to make of these gifts.

Do you see yourselves aging gracefully and still singing in the next 20 years?

Yes. We will constantly find ways to make the music and the shows interesting.